Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Photos: Aleš Podbrežnik
Location: Brno / Hala Rondo / Czech Republic
Concert date: December 12, 2015
Attendance: 12,000
Ticket price: 1290,00kČs (floor front) / 790,00kČs (floor back)
Metal giants Judas Priest are, believe it or not, enjoying a new renaissance after 45 years in the game. After announcing a farewell tour some years back, bringing in new guitarist Richie Faulkner gave them a fresh run-up and a new creative kick. That’s how last year’s new studio album »Redeemer of Souls« was born, and Judas Priest hit the road with it on a new tour. This year they already played across the old continent as part of the summer European festivals. And before the year was out, they confirmed a late autumn and winter tour, once again dedicated to promoting the still-current »Redeemer of Souls«. The band is also already announcing a new studio album, which is further proof that a fresh wind of youthful bloom is blowing around the metal elder statesmen.
To make the tour even more attractive, Judas Priest invited a band with an even longer career than their own. Britain’s UFO. The rock greats released their 21st studio album »A Conspiracy Of Stars« this year, and the current lineup is made up of the following gents: Phil Mogg (vocals), Andy Parker (drums), Paul Raymond (keyboards, guitar), Vinnie Moore (guitar)! Since 2008, bassist Rob De Luca has been helping out (live only) in place of the retired Pete Way. UFO got a full hour to cut loose in the Rondo hockey arena in Brno, the Czech Republic’s second-largest city. The arena seats 7,200. The stands behind the stage weren’t open, of course, but a floor section was added. A packed house, seats included. An estimated 11,000 to 12,000 people! Hotels all over Brno were completely booked out by midday. Demand for this show was clearly huge.
Back to the UFO set. Dressed up in his Sunday best, vocalist Phil Mogg took the stage as expected. Once again accompanied by alcoholic derivatives. The swaying old uncle didn’t forget the lyrics mid-song this time, but he took plenty of time between songs to chat up the crowd. He was especially eyeing the ladies in the front rows. You could hear comments like: »Nice cleavage, keep on touching!«, and later, when the fans started urging him to please start singing already, he stopped them while addressing some girl: »Wait a minute. I am tryin’ to make a business commitment« . He also complimented some bloke with a scarf wrapped around his head, saying he looked like Spike, the singer of the Quireboys. In short, Mogg was in no way bored at this gig. Moore and the rest of the gang exchanged a few glances while waiting for Mogg. Still, the band delivered exactly what we came for. A hell of a show. They hold the riff and they grab you with it. Evergreen. The sound was excellent. Out of ten songs, the band played 4 newer ones, but the classics stole the attention, led by the opener Mother Mary and the other cult numbers Lights Out, Rock Bottom, Let it Roll, Only you Can Rock Me and the unforgettable Doctor, Doctor, with which UFO wrapped up a seriously energetic and vivid performance. Vinnie Moore dazzled once again with his magical guitar acrobatics, and the band showed off an outstanding stage tightness. Even the »swaying« Uncle Phil, at times stiff under the full weight of the booze, got through the gig at the required level. In short: UFO still got it. A great show. An attraction! These giants of the rock bible are still more than fired up and sharp-toothed, even in their golden years! A sinfully good experience.
Hand on heart: it was precisely the confirmation of UFO as Judas Priest’s opening act that gave the mini RockLine crew extra motivation to make the trip all the way to Brno for both bands. And it was a Saturday, too. Doesn’t get any sweeter.
Judas Priest kicked off their set a little after 9:30 p.m. After a shortened taped version of War Pigs (Black Sabbath) and a taped intro (Battle Cry), the band (just like this summer at the See Rock festival in Graz) hit us with the new Dragonaut. All the lads in their places. Right from the start, Faulkner got more room than Glenn Tipton, and it stayed that way throughout. He even got a few special minutes for a solo spot. Seasoned old cat Tipton is handing more and more important duties over to young Faulkner. Especially when it comes to soloing. Halford is Halford. He remains the constant. It’s great to see him in fine vocal form again. For his age, of course. The man does get some help from the mixing desk here and there, but the key screams still pour out of him with tremendous heart and piercing power. The band extended the setlist by one song compared to the summer festival gigs. Devil’s Child was replaced in the set by the excellent Desert Plains (»Point of Entry«, 1981), and Jawbreaker by the outstanding Screaming For Vengenace (»Screaming For Vengeance«, 1982). The one extra song compared to the summer setlist was The Rage. That was one of the sweetest surprises of the night: an overlooked but excellent track from one of the most successful records of Judas Priest’s career, called »British Steel« (1980).
Judas Priest don’t let anything rattle them. They’re far too experienced for that. They play with incredible confidence and ease. The sound in the arena was dreamy. The crowd in the packed hall was loud and fired up. The funniest was a guy who could barely stand on his feet for the whole show, obviously thanks to an excess of alcohol molecules in his blood. It looked like he was doing everything during the gig except listening to it. Somewhere in the middle of the show the old boy vanished from the front rows. Then, about 15 minutes later, he came back. With two hot dogs, which the happy-go-lucky fellow held up toward the stage, offering them to Faulkner and Halford. The things you meet and see at concerts! Anyway, the crowd deserves a big fat ten for carrying the band high on its wings all night long. You could also spot plenty of younger heavy metalheads in the audience, which is very, very good. Decked out in their favorite Judas Priest shirts and the rest of the metal kitsch, of course.
In the style of a great high priest and biblical sage, Halford changed outfits a few times during the show, traded some preacher-style words with the crowd, rode a motorcycle onto the stage before Hell Bent For Leather (and unbuckled the whole thing right off the bike seat), and before You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ he theatrically warmed up the audience with vocal arias that the crowd had to repeat after him.
The obligatory encore began with drummer Scott Travis, who first asked the crowd whether they wanted to hear one more song. Considering Travis was all alone on stage, it was clear which song was coming. The band jumped into Painkiller, the crowd went wild one last time, and Judas Priest closed with the fourth track of the night from the »British Steel« album, the aptly named Livin’ After Midnight.
Seeing Judas Priest live remains a one-of-a-kind spectacle, and nothing else comes even close. The experience with this band lives on stage, in the flesh, and it’s unique. The form is still there, and so is the agility. A new album on the horizon naturally extends the lifespan of these metal legends. It’s clear we’ll see them again. Let’s hope it’s very soon.
Setlist
JUDAS PRIEST:
1. War Pigs (taped intro)
2. Battle Cry (taped intro)
3. Dragonaut
4. Metal Gods
5. Desert Plains
6. Victim of Changes
7. Halls of Valhalla
8. The Rage
9. Turbo Lover
10. Redeemer of Souls
11. Beyond the Realms of Death
12. Screaming for Vengeance
13. Breaking the Law
14. Hell Bent for Leather
15. The Hellion
16. Electric Eye
17. You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
—encore—
18. Painkiller
19. Living After Midnight
20. Beginning of the End (taped outro)
UFO:
1. Mother Mary
2. Run Boy Run
3. Lights Out
4. Venus
5. Burn Your House Down
6. Only You Can Rock Me
7. Let It Roll
8. Messiah of Love
9. Rock Bottom
10. Doctor Doctor
Photo gallery
